XYCriMENE. ggO 



similar to the wings of BaUonycferis ; iiidox of ll.ird di-it in 

 JS^pchmene 1902, Bnlionycteris 1847, Cxjnopterus 1637 of llurth 

 di<;it respectively 1503, 148-5, and 1303, of fifth di-^it 1387 

 1403, and 1266; first phalanx of second digit unusually short' 

 about two-thirds of (in Cympterm subequal to) second and 

 third phalanx with claw; claw of second digit stronger than in 

 tynoiHeras; third metacarpal slightly longer than fifth, fourth the 

 shortest, as generally in Cynopteiine bats; distal phalanx of fourth 

 and fifth digits decidedly longer than proximal phalanx of same 

 digits. Compare wing-indices below (upper row, those of Niietimene 

 calculated from sixty adult individuals; second, those of Balio- 

 nycteris ; third, those of Cynoptems). 



Fur.—k httle longer than in CynojHerus, silky or woolly on 

 upperside. Forearm clothed above for basal half or third • tibiie 

 naked or thinly haired above; upperside of intei femoral densely 

 covered in centre, practically naked laterally along the whole or 

 the posterior two-thirds or half of tibid. 



CoZoM/-.— A well-marked dark brown spinal stripe, from the 

 shoulder region (or the occiput) to the interfemoral, renders the 

 large majority of species of this genns easily distinguishable 

 from all other Fruit-bats ; the stripe is generally'equal in breadth 

 to about one-eighth of the furred area of the back, iu one species 

 (N. acllo) about one-third the breadth of the back, sometimes 

 however, much less conspicuously developed, being very thin (one- 

 fifteenth of back: N. alMventer), or traceable only alono- the 

 posterior half or third of the back (xV. mhiutns. varius, c:/clotis) in 

 the latter case sometimes further obscured bv the colour of the 

 back being irregularly mottled all over with "darker tips to the 

 hairs. The general colour of the fur is paler than usual in Meo-a- 

 chiroptera, as a rule fawn-brown, fawn-drab, ashy-drab, wood- 

 brown, buff-y, or even cream-coloured above, usually paler beneath 

 with more or less distinctly darker flanks. In all species the 

 forearm and metacarpals are spotted with yellow, as a rule also 

 the phalanges (most often those of the third, less frequently thoso 

 of the fourth and fifth digits), membranes, and ears, and often the 

 interfemoral, tibia, metatarsus, and tail; the number, size and 

 distribution of these yellow spots are subject to conside'rable 

 individu'cil variation, the markings being even very often con- 

 spicuously asymmetric. 



